Vehicle and boat storage on your own ground

Storage for the machines you use seasonally

Collectors, dealers with overflow lots, marinas, powersports fleets, and landlords adding rentable storage hit the same wall: vehicles and boats that sit for months still need somewhere dry, locked, and reachable. A shipping container on your own ground does that job without a monthly yard bill. This page covers vehicle and boat storage; if you are storing household goods, see storage containers for homeowners.

Your land versus a storage yard

A storage yard charges by the month, sets gate hours, and often waitlists boat and RV spots. A container you own sits where the work is: hitch up at dawn, no gate code. The tradeoff is that you take on the yard's job — a level, compacted spot, truck access for delivery, and your city or HOA's placement rules.

What fits: the door is the gate

Every container loads through a door opening about 7ft 8in wide by 7ft 5in tall (about 8ft 5in on a high cube — a container roughly 1ft taller). For a trailered boat, two numbers decide it: total trailer length against 19ft 4in of interior in a 20ft unit or 39ft 5in in a 40ft, and beam plus trailer fenders against door width. Many bass and fishing boats under a 7ft 6in beam roll in; pontoons and wide-beam hulls do not, and no modification changes that.

A 20ft one-trip container (one-trip meaning a single factory-to-buyer cargo run, the closest condition to new) suits a car, motorcycles, or gear. A 40ft one-trip high cube covers trailered boats, two vehicles nose-to-tail, or a car plus workshop space, with the extra door height that outboards and wakeboard towers eat up quickly.

Container40ft One-Trip High Cube Container (9ft 6in)New one-trip 40ft high cube container, 9ft 6in tall — extra height for plant and digger storage. Corten steel, CSC plated.$8,145View details →

Ventilation is the first spec, not an add-on

The biggest threat to a stored engine, hull, or interior is not weather but condensation inside a sealed steel box. Fitted vents, desiccant, and a breathable cover keep moisture off metal and upholstery — and a container is not climate-controlled without modification, so expect humidity swings. Our guide to storing a car in a shipping container covers the full prep list, from fuel stabilizer to battery tenders.

Doors, ramps, and racking

Standard end doors work for anything you can drive or winch straight in over short ramps. A 40ft full side access high cube opens along its whole length instead, which changes what the box can hold: kayaks, masts, outboard parts, and pallets loaded from the side. The tradeoff is more door seals to inspect. For gear rather than vehicles, three-tier container racking puts parts, tires, and tackle on shelves; racking costs floor width, so it belongs in a gear container, not the vehicle bay.

ContainerThree-Tier Container Racking (2 Bays, 20ft)New two-bay three-tier heavy-duty container racking — kits out a 20ft container (also fits 30ft and 40ft) with adjustable shelving.$590View details →

Security at an unattended lot

Stored vehicles concentrate value where nobody watches daily. Fit a lockbox (a welded shroud that hides the padlock from bolt cutters) with a puck lock, and site the container so its doors face a fence or another unit. Our guide on how to secure a shipping container covers the layering in detail; every added layer costs a step at each visit.

Modifications the unit can have

Containers take modification well: shelving, lighting, fitted vents, and an outlet for battery tenders are all common additions, handled through our custom modifications service. Scope them before delivery — retrofitting is possible but easier before the unit is loaded.

Frequently asked questions

Will my boat fit in a shipping container?

Measure total trailer length and beam including trailer fenders. Under about 7ft 6in of beam and 19ft of length fits a 20ft unit; up to about 39ft of trailer length fits a 40ft. Pontoons and wide-beam hulls exceed the door width and do not fit.

Can I store a car and gear in the same container?

In a 40ft, yes: a car nose-in leaves roughly half the length for shelving and a bench. In a 20ft, a car uses nearly the full interior, so gear storage usually means a second, racked unit.

Do containers work for winter boat storage?

Yes, with prep: drain water systems, stabilize fuel, pull or tender the battery, and control condensation with vents and desiccant. The container blocks UV, rain, and snow, but it is not heated or climate-controlled without modification.

Can a container have power for battery tenders?

Units can be modified with lighting and outlets for tenders through our custom modifications service; scope it when you order. Until then, a removed battery stored somewhere warm does the same job at lower cost.

Do I need a permit to keep a container on my property?

It depends on your city, county, and HOA. Some allow placement outright, others require a permit or limit duration and visibility. Check local code before delivery day — this is general guidance, not legal advice.

Get a free quote

Tell us what you are storing, its widest and tallest measurements, and where the container will sit. Every unit is inspected and graded before delivery, and our container delivery service checks site access first: a tilt-bed (roll-off) truck slides the box off at ground level, no crane or forklift. Vents, racking, or an outlet for tenders can be scoped through our custom modifications service in the same order. The quote is free and itemized with no hidden fees, and we reply within 1 business day.